Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan

The Human Rights Council established the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan for a one-year term on 23 March 2016 by resolution 31/20 and subsequently extended its mandate for an additional year in 2017 (through
resolution 34/25) and in 2018 (through
resolution 37/31), with its current term due to expire in March 2019.

The Commission presented its first report to the Human Rights Council in March 2017, which was followed by an interactive discussion with States. At that point the Commission was comprised of Yasmin Sooka (South Africa), Godfrey Musila (Kenya) and Ken Scott (USA).

Currently the members of the Commission are Yasmin Sooka (Chairperson, South Africa), Andrew Clapham (UK and Switzerland) and Barney Afako (Uganda).

The Commission's mandate is to determine and report the facts and circumstances of, collect and preserve evidence of, and clarify responsibility for alleged gross violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes, including sexual and gender-based violence and ethnic violence, with a view to ending impunity and providing accountability.

Mandate

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To monitor and report on the situation of human rights in South Sudan, and to make recommendations to prevent further deterioration of the situation with a view to its improvement.

To determine and report the facts and circumstances of, collect and preserve evidence of, and clarify responsibility for alleged gross violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes, including sexual and gender-based violence and ethnic violence, with a view to ending impunity and providing accountability, and to make such information available also to all transitional justice mechanisms, including those to be established pursuant to chapter V of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, including the hybrid court for South Sudan, once established in cooperation with the African Union;

To report on the factual basis for transitional justice and reconciliation;

To provide guidance on transitional justice, including accountability and reconciliation and healing, as appropriate, and – once the Government of South Sudan commits to cooperating with the African Union on establishing the hybrid court for South Sudan – to make recommendations on technical assistance to the Government to support accountability, reconciliation and healing;

To engage with the Government of South Sudan, international and regional mechanisms, including the United Nations, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, the African Union, including by building upon the work of its Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan and its African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, including the Partners Forum, the Chair of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission and civil society, with a view to providing support to national, regional and international efforts to promote accountability for human rights violations and abuses;

To make recommendations on technical assistance and capacity-building, as appropriate, including to law enforcement institutions, on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including on addressing sexual and gender-based violence.

A/HRC/RES/31/20 – Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 23 March 2016 on the Situation of human rights in South Sudan.

Press Releases

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UN human rights experts say South Sudan leaders should seize the opportunity of the revitalized peace process to ensure accountability and help victims of the conflict rebuild their lives14 December 2018English